Quote:Insurance companies require many facilities commercial and industrial to have security. Or offer a discount in insurance rates to facilities that do. The facilities then in turn hire the cheapist, rinky dink companys to fill this role. This trend is only going to continue. I fear what I have come to call the "McGuard" is here to stay.

otobeawanker,

Actually I have seen this trend getting better not worse. After 911 everything tightened up including Private Sector Security.

It’s now a 3rd Degree Felony to assault a security officer thanks to the Feds. It’s also harder to get cleared for the good jobs now, the background check is the same as Law Enforcement.

The Federal Government is also using a lot more Private Sector Security Companies. I know because I am a Base Security Enforcement Officer. I do the same thing the DOD Police does except arrest or write citations but I can handcuff & detain and perform traffic stops. If the person needs to be cited or arrested I just radio DOD Police and they come and get them.

You still have your run of the mill unarmed Security Companies but I believe they are on their way out. 10 to 20 years ago McDonalds, movie theaters, arcades and etc. used the “guard” now most use off duty LEO because they want better security and the uniform is more of a deterrent.

Also Insurance companies are getting more stringent with the Security Companies requiring them to have Security Officers that are more qualified & trained.

And lastly there is more money in better trained Professional Security Officers so what do you think Security Companies are going to do?

as you say, you couldn't do better unless you were trained in the military.

and, no offence meant, but I am not sure that being the head of security for a large IT company is a sign of being the top of the top in terms of security of the bang bang type. I would think that the real test are those guys who are in places where extreme and unexpected violence is common, again, no offense meant what so ever to you or your friend.

I think you would agree that there are many levels of security with regard to both property and personal protection?

It appears in some of these posts...that we are talking apples and oranges. Many of us come from different experience levels, but the common thread is protecting the asset(s).

Is there a standard "threat" grading on executive protection?

All may feel free to elaborate on my humble stab in the dark on this:

Low - Business person in the US.Medium - High Profile business person in the USHigh - High Profile business person or celebrity traveling outside the US.Very High - High Profile individual traveling in "hot spot" locationsUltra High(Areyououtofyourfreakingmind) - Fully armed..locked and loaded protection of a High Profile individual in hostile situation..team effort with support and evac plan(s).

_________________________"If you're gonna be stupid, you better be tough."

I've seen a T.V. show on a place in Virginia that teaches evasive driving, firearm use and care, how to safely escort your client, and much much more. forogt what it was called but it made me think of good old 007 .-Karl

_________________________
A true warrior wins the battle before it begins.

I've been enrolled in ESI's Certified Security Specialist course for 4 months now. So far I couldn't be happier, just another 15 months to go.

From what I've learned of the case study on assassinations I've been doing so far. Is that whenever the bodyguards are forced to draw their guns, they usually all wind up dead. Partly because they were ex-LEO and Military with no Protection training. It's not that they were a bad shot or not good at their trade. It's that they were ambushed by superior man and fire power. By the time they knew what was happening there was nothing they could do about it. That is the nature of the "game". The Executive Protection resources / budget is stretched over weeks, months or years. Where as the terrorist or attackers resources / budget can all be concentrated on a period of as little as 3 minutes! So it is best to be trained how to avoid getting caught in the ambush.

The Aldo Moro ambush and kidnapping makes for great case study and so does the video of the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.

Basically what I've learned so far, is that if you have to draw your gun as a bodyguard it's probably too late to seriously effect the outcome.

I'm also going for my Infantry training with the Canadian Forces. So hopefully I'll have the best of both worlds.

I have been involved in what is called "red teaming" - basically being the badguy in protection excersizes.

if the attacker doesn't mind dying, there is no way to stop him.

if he wants to live, and he is pretty good, you can't stop him with less than about 10 to one power. the main reason is what you said - he will be focused on the exact time and place of the hit, and you need to be focused for months or years. the very best guys I have seen have been able to identify the "red team" during casing and preperation work and intervene before we were set up.

Work side: I have received a written comendation for my ability to search for and identify bombs during a terrorist incident. I've protected members of the Parliment of Canada and other higher level politicians. I've also provided security for rock bands and celebrities. I've worked as a private contractor on a military base. I've also preformed security in some other very intresting enviroments.

Overall: I've worked with some government EP teams and they have been very impressed with the my knowledge in the field. So much so, that they have expressed intrest in enrolling to ESI themselves. The education this school provides has opened doors for me and I haven't even graduated or joined the ESI Alumni Association yet. All I can say is that the sky is the limit.

Quote:I am going to look into Bodyguard Training International. They offer both a 5 day and 10 day course. As I am former Military and former Deputy Sheriff, this would add missing components to my skillsets. As of yet, I have not checked the school out, nor checked to see how the training is viewed in the EP community. 10 day's I can pull off..10 weeks I can't.

If you find a way to see what the industry views as good schools, I am all ears.

Somehow I thought there was a school in VA that included evasive driving.

I went to that school, at least I think it's the one you're talking about. When I went, It was called ITI- International Training Incorporated (I think) and they have since been bought by Armor Group. It is located in West Point, VA and they also have a facility in TX. They do more than just EP training though. Some of the best (and most fun) training I ever had.